The 30-year-old left-back missed the final five matches of the club's maiden Barclays Premier League campaign with a back injury which required an operation at the end of April.

Higginbotham was not expected to be available for the early part of pre-season but he intends to report back on Thursday for the first day of training with a view to playing in one of Stoke's opening friendlies at either Newcastle Town or Nantwich Town on Sunday.

"Everything is fine now apart from a little bit of stiffness, but that's just 'pre-season pain' from all the running I've been doing," said the player, who has been working with physio Dave Watson.

"It's a relief to be sorted. When I had the operation, they told me I could be out for three months, so I'm the right side of that.

"If you miss pre-season then you are always playing catch-up and sometimes you don't make that up until towards the end of the season."

Higginbotham started 30 matches last season as the Potters defied the critics to escape relegation and finish 12th in their first top-flight season for 23 years.

The defender said the squad was just as determined not to rest on their laurels in their second year.

"We are just as hungry for it as we were last year and no-one is going to be taking their foot off the gas," he said.

"If people want to write us off again then that's fine. There might actually be a little more expectation on us this time, but as a group we are a year stronger and wiser."